By Emmanuel Babafemi
Friday, March 29, 2024 — The Nigerian military is set to release over 300 individuals suspected of ties to the Boko Haram insurgency following a court ruling that found insufficient evidence of their involvement in any criminal activities.
Since 2009, Boko Haram has waged a violent campaign aimed at overthrowing the government and establishing an Islamic state, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and displacing more than 2 million people.
According to Major General Edward Buba, a defence spokesperson, the court’s decision was made in northeastern Borno State, the epicentre of the insurgency.
The suspects, whose cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution under the Federal Ministry of Justice, will be transferred to the Borno State Government for further proceedings.
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Despite ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate jihadists who voluntarily surrender, tensions persist in communities affected by the insurgency.
Boko Haram gained global attention in 2014 with the abduction of over 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, prompting the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
As the tenth anniversary of the kidnapping approaches, dozens of girls remain missing.
